Radiating thermic element with catalytic gas oxidation



G. BELLO March 13, 1962 RADIATING THERMIC ELEMENT WITH CATALYTIC GASOXIDATION Filed Oct. 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet. .l

INVENTOR.

GOVANNl BELLO ATTORNEY Marh 13, 1962 G. BELLO 3,024,836

RADIATING THERMIC ELEMENT WITH CATALYTIC GAS OXIDATION Filed Oct. 18,1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. GIOVANNI BELLO ATTORNEY G. BELLO March`13, 1962 RADIATING THERMIC ELEMENT WITH CATALYTIC GAS OXIDATION Filed0G13. 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

GIOVANNI BELLO BY -*Eh CUL ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,024,836RADIATING THERMIC ELEMENT WITH CATALYTIC GAS OXIDATION Giovanni Bello,Turin, Italy, assigner to American Infra Red Radiant Co., Inc., Houston,Tex., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 18, 1955, Ser. No. 541,260Claims priority, application Italy Oct. 19, 1954 4 Claims. (Cl. 158-114)It is known that thermic elements which function by catalytic oxidationof gas can afford satisfactory results only when a very uniform feedingof the gas is effected ou the whole internal area of the catalytic massand when equally uniform preheating is exerted on the mass itself.

The present invention has for an object the provision of zt radiatingthermic element which functions by catalyti.: oxidation of gas,characterized by peculiarities which allow to obtain, together with asimple and strong construction, the best working conditions, especiallyregarding the feeding and the preheating uniformity.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example only, anembodiment of the invention as well as a modification thereof. In thedrawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a thermic element partly sectioned toshow the feed space in the upper half of the drawing and to show theelectric preheating resistance in the catalytic mass, in the lowerright-hand quarter of the drawing.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross-section;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line III-III in FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 4 is a rear View of a modified form of thermic element accordingto the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a section on the line V-V in FIG. 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the thermic element shown in FIGURE 4,having the protection grate and a portion of the catalytic mass removedon the right-hand side, in order to show the disposition of thepreheating resistance.

With reference to the rst embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, thenumeral 1 indicates a casing which constitutes a diffusion chamber forthe gas and a supporting frame for the element. It is provided withsupporting means, for example threaded pivots 1.

A catalytic unit comprising two layers of active material 3, 4sandwiched between two sheets of wire gauze 5, 6 or other perforatedmaterial, is located across the open front end of the casing 1 and heldin position by means of a frame 2 which is secured to the front edge ofthe casing by means of a bead 2 or by means of bolts, rivets or thelike.

The sheets of wire gauze 5, 6 or at least the sheet 6 which is mostlikely to be subjected to damage 0r deformation as a result of heatexpansion, is stitfened by forming transverse corrugations 6 therein.

A preheating electric resistance 7 is disposed between the layers ofactive material 3, 4. This disposition and particular formationfacilitates uniform heating of the catalytic mass and ensures asatisfactory start of the element without any unburned gas leakingthrough the catalytic mass during the iirst moments of starting.

The preheating resistance 7 is connected to terminals 8 located at theside of the casing 1 and may be composed of two or more sections inorder to adapt the apparatus to power supplies of different voltages,should this be necessary.

Uniform feeding of gas to the catalytic mass in order to ensure uniformpressure on the inner face thereof, is obtained by providing a zig-zagfeed pipe 9 within the 3,024,835 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 ICC casing 1.The feed pipe 9 is closed at both ends and is connected at its middleportion 10 to a gas inlet connection 11. The feed pipe 9 is providedalong its length with preferably equi-distantly spaced outlet holes 9 toensure uniform distribution of gas within the casing 1 and thus toeliminate any possible pressure differences on the catalytic mass.

The pipe 9 may, of course, be provided in any other suitableconformation, for example, spiral, instead of the zig-zag conformationshown in the drawings. The main consideration, however, should be toobtain a uniform distribution of gas within the casing 1.

Gas for the thermic element is preferably supplied through a pressurereducer. The reducer may be of the variable type in order to enable heatcontrol of the thermic element and thus to make it adaptable for avariety of practical uses.

In order to assist in obtaining a uniform distribution of gas, aperforated sheet 12 may be inserted between the feed pipe 9 and thecatalytic mass.

Nearly all the constructional and functional features described abovecan be applied also to the modification shown in FIGURES 3 to 6. Inthese figures numerals corresponding to those used in FIGURES 1 and 2indicate like parts or parts of a similar character.

One characteristic of the modication is that the element is non-planar,i.e., curved at least in one direction. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGURES 3 to 6, the curvature is around a vertical axis.

The curved shape of the element has several advantages. Principally, itensures radiation of heat over a larger area of a room to be heated. Italso enhances rigidity of the wire gauze sheets 5, 6 containing thecatalytic mass and the stilfening corrugations which were provided inthe embodiment previously described, can be dispensed with. Furthermore,it is better from an aesthetic point of view and when the supportingmembers of the element are provided on the back thereof, allows them tobe substantially hidden from view.

Another characteristic of the modification is the particular arrangementof the preheating electric resistance. As shown, the resistance has aregular undulating form and is supported by a light frame 13 made, forexample, from sheet metal and provided along its longitudinal sides withsmall insulating carriers 14 made, for example, from steatite. Theinsulating carriers are each provided with a groove through which theresistance wire or ribbon is threadedfrom one carrier to another inparallel lines so as to be uniformly spread over the catalytic mass andthus ensure uniform heating thereof.

A feed pipe 9 of zig-zag conformation is located Within the casing 1 inthe same way as that shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 and is also adapted tobe connected to the gas supply as already described. There is onedifference, however, namely, that the gas outlet holes 9 are 'providedtowards the rear of the thermic element instead of facing directlytowards the catalytic mass. It is possible-all other things beingequalin this way to obtain an even more uniform supply of gas to thecatalytic mass.

A further characteristic of the modified thermal element is itssupporting means. Two brackets 15 are provided on the casing 1 andextremities of a U-shaped supporting element 17 which is secured to thebrackets by means of bolts and wing nuts 16 or the like. The base partof the supporting element has a clamp 18 secured thereto which clamp canbe fastened directly onto an edge of a gas ilask when such flask is usedas a source of supply. In this case the ask itself serves as asupporting base for the thermic element and it may be carried on avehicle to facilitate transport of the device. It will be appreciatedthat the clamp 13 can be varied to suit different types of mountings,for example. wall or ceiling mountings. By loosening the wing nuts 16,it is possible to adjust the element in any desired position in order todirect the heat to the best advantage.

The feed pipe 9 can be made from stainless metallic material, e.g.,nickel-chromium steel, or, and preferably, of tubular sections orrefractory material (steatite, porcelain, etc.) provided with holes 9and connected together by semi-circular joints of the same or othersuitable material.

The perforated sheet 12 (if provided) may also be of stainless metal orrefractory material, particularly asbestos-cement conglomerate such aseternit.

With the arrangements described in the foregoing, catalytic oxidationtakes place in the catalytic mass and heat is emitted in the form ofdark radiation (infrared) without llame or incandescence and without anyleakage of unburned gases, smoke or carbon monoxide.

The thermic elements according to the present invention are thereforequite suitable for the heating of dwelling houses as they do not requirethe provision of exhaust pipes or chimneys.

I claim:

1. A catalytic heater for operation with gaseous fuels comprising, ahousing having a wall and an opening opposite said wall, a catalyticmass covering said opening and comprising a pair of layers of catalyticmaterial in face to face relation, electric resistance means disposedbetween said layers and extending across substantially the entireconfronting surfaces of said layers for the uniform preheating thereof,said housing defining a gas distribution chamber between said wall andsaid catalytic mass, and fuel distribution means disposed in saidchamber and comprising a pipe arranged in undulated configuration alongthe cross section of said chamber and having spaced fuel outlet holes todistribute the fuel uniformly in the chamber, said pipe being in fluidcommunication with a fuel inlet conduit.

2. A catalytic heater for operation with gaseous fuels comprising, ahousing having a wall and an opening opposite` said wall, a catalyticmass covering said opening and comprising a pair of layers of catalyticmaterial in face to face relation, electric resistance means disposedbetween 'said layers and arranged in undulated configuration acrosssubstantially the entire confronting surfaces of said layer for theuniform preheating of said catalytic mass, said housing defining a gasdistribution chamber between said wall and said catalytic mass, and fueldistribution means disposed in said chamber and comprising a pipearranged in undulated configuration along the cross section of saidchamber and having spaced fuel outlet holes to distribute the fueluniformly in the chamber, said pipe being in fluid communication with afuel inlet conduit.

3. A catalytic heater for operation with gaseous fuels comprising ahousing having a Wall and an opening opposite said wall, a catalyticmass covering said opening and comprising a pair of layers of catalyticmaterial in face to face relation, electric resistance means disposedbetween said layers and arranged in undulated configuration acrosssubstantially the entire confronting surfaces of said layer for theuniform preheating of said catalytic mass, said housing defining a gasdistribution chamber between said wall and said catalytic mass, and fueldistribution means disposed in said chamber and comprising a pipearranged in undulated configuration along the cross section of saidchamber and having spaced fuel outlet holes to distribute the fueluniformly in the chamber, said pipe being in fluid communication with afuel inlet conduit, and a mesh screen provided in said housing betweensaid catalytic mass and said distribution means in spaced relationtherewith for more uniformly distributing the fuel to said catalyticmass.

4. A catalytic heater for operation with gaseous fuels comprising, ahousing having a wall and an opening opposite said wall, a catalyticmass covering said opening and comprising a pair of layers of catalyticmaterial in face to face relation, electric resistance means disposedbel tween said layers and extending across substantially the entireconfronting surfaces of said layers for the uniform preheating thereof,said housing vdefining a gas distribution chamber between said wall andsaid catalytic mass, and fuel distribution means disposed inl saidchamber and comprising a pipe arranged in undulated configuration alongthe cross section of said chamber and having spaced fuel outlet holes todistribute the fuel uniformly in the chamber, said pipe being in fluidcommunication with a fuel inlet conduit, said fuel outlet holes being inconfronting relation with said wall.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I670,332 Simonini Mar. 19, 1901 891,245 Geurink June 23, 1908 1,225,381Wedge May 8, 1917 1,246,682 Thompson Nov. 13, 1917 1,386,672 AltsitzerAug. 9, 1921 2,407,729 TaylorY Sept. 17, 1946 2,487,754 Cohn Nov. 8,1949 2,558,493 Melot June 26, 1951 2,658,742 Suter et al. Nov. 10, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 14,218 Great Britain of 1892 147,304l Great BritainJuly22, 1920 1,071,926 France Mar. 10, 1954 1,088,505 France Sept. 8,1954 1,095,865 France Dec. 29, 1954 659,698 Germany May 9, 1938

1. A CATALYTIC HEATER FOR OPERATION WITH GASEOUS FUEL S COMPRISING, AHOUSING HAVING A WALL AND AN OPENING OPPOSITE SAID WALL, A CATALYTICMASS COVERING SAID OPENING AND COMPRISING A PAIR OF LAYERS OF CATALYTICMATERIAL IN FACE TO FACE RELATION, ELECTRIC RESISTANCE MEANS DISPOSEDBETWEEN SAID LAYERS AND EXTENDNG ACROSS SUBSTANTIALLY THE